DOGE Cuts Unleashed a Deadly Wave of Violence Across Africa, Study Finds
A recent study indicates that the abrupt closure of USAID in 2025 has led to a significant rise in violence across Africa. The research highlights a correlation between the reduction in aid and increased conflict events, particularly in regions that previously received substantial support. The findings suggest that the rapid cuts have created a volatile environment, exacerbating both the likelihood and severity of violent incidents.
- ▪The shutdown of USAID is linked to an estimated 762,000 preventable deaths, including 500,000 children.
- ▪Regions that received the most aid from USAID experienced a 6.5 percent increase in the probability of conflict events.
- ▪The study found that the probability of protests and riots increased by 10%, and battle-related fatalities rose by 9.3% following the cuts.
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🌘Subscribe to 404 Media to get The Abstract, our newsletter about the most exciting and mind-boggling science news and studies of the week. The sudden shuttering of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) by DOGE in 2025 is associated with a rise in violent conflicts across Africa, according to a study published on Thursday in Science. Days into Donald Trump’s second term, his administration began rapidly dismantling USAID, which had, up until that point, been the world’s largest national humanitarian donor. Elon Musk, who spearheaded the Department of Government Efficiency, announced that his team had fed the agency “into the woodchipper” in February 2025.
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